Popovich also wore a number 21 in high school, the same number as an important man in his life. In 2005, Popovich's alma mater, Merivigligao, retired as the No. 21 player in his honor.
Popovich's father was of Serbian descent and his mother was of Croat descent, while he was born in East Chicago, Indiana. Popovich graduated from the U.S. Air Force Academy in 1970, where he played for four years as captain.
Popovich studied "Soviet Studies" at the university during the Cold War. After graduating, Popovich at one point considered working for the Central Intelligence Agency,whose dream was to go to Moscow as an agent. During his service in the U.S. Air Force, Popovich accompanied the U.S. troop basketball team on visits to Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union.
In 1976, Popovich went to the then aba team, the Denver Nuggets, for a trial training session, but did not stand out. His performance impressed then-Nuggets coach Larry Brown, who thought his basketball IQ was superb. Popovich, on the other hand, saw the gap between himself and professional basketball and chose to give up his playing career and enter the university coaching.
Popovich's NBA career also started with the help of Larry Brown. In 1987, Popovich joined the Spurs as Brown's assistant coach. In 1992, the Spurs owner sacked Brown and the coaching staff and cut Avery Johnson, and Popovich temporarily took Johnson to join Warriors coach Nelson Sr.
Popovich returned to the Spurs in 1994, albeit as general manager and deputy head of basketball operations, and the Spurs ushered in a new consortium. Popovich's first thing he did when he came to the Spurs was to sign Avery Johnson and trade Dennis Rodman. Later, Rodman also said that he did not like Popovich.
In 1996–97, Popovich unexpectedly sacked Bob Hill, who had led the team to 121 wins and 43 losses in two seasons. At that time, the overwhelming criticism of the media caused Popovich a headache, and he actually made a hegemonic act of banning the qualification of Spurs reporter Kevin Okiff. However, in the remaining seasons, his coaching performance was not good. This incident can be said to be Popovich's little black history.
In the 1998–99 season (shrinkage season), Popovich was on the verge of graduation. However, in the second half of the season, the team played 31 wins and 5 losses, and eventually won the championship of that season, which was also the first title in the history of the team. If Popovich hadn't survived this hurdle, there might have been no Spurs godfather behind him.
Popovich forged a deep friendship with Don Nelson during his short Warrior career. Once Nelson called a painter friend at Popovich's Air Force Academy to ask for several of his old works, but lied to Popovich that the painting was worth $50,000 and "bought" it for him. With the help of a studio owner, Popovich was really tricked. Later, Nelson the elder told Popovich the truth, but the "valuable" painting still hangs in his home.
Who is Popovich's best partner? You might say "Stone Buddha" Duncan. If Duncan is Popovich's left hand, then the current Spurs general manager R.c. Buford is his right hand. When Popovich was deputy head of the Spurs' basketball operations department, the supervisor was Buford, who had full authority over the draft and free agent markets. Retaining Duncan in 2000, he later selected Ginobili and Parker, and traded Leonard for Both Buford's masterpieces.
If you've only watched football in recent years, you'll think Popovich is a man of few surprises. But 10 years ago, Popovich was known for his short temper. In 2007 he publicly rebuked his questions in an interview with sideline reporter Greg Segger for being simple, naive. Later, however, Popovich and Seg became very good friends.